Detachable strap-tightener.



I. D. GHRISTMAN.

DETAGHABLE STRAP TIGHTENER.

APPLICATION FILED JAlLlfi, 1910.

Patented Dec. 13, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

P. D. GHRISTMAN. DETAOHABLE STRAP. TIGHTENER.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.15,1910.

Patented Dec. 13,1910.

2 BEEETS-BHEET 2.

PHILIP n. CHRISTMAN, 0F BRYAN, oHIo.

DETACHABLE STRAP-TIGI-ITENER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 13, 1910.

Application filed January 15, 1910. Serial No. 538,249.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PHILIP D. CHRIST- MAN, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Bryan, in the county of WVilliams and State of Ohio,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in DetachableStrap-Tighteners; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,clear, and exactdescription of the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and to thefigures and letters of reference marked thereon.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a device fordetachably securing and tightening the straps for straining and holdingautomobile and speed launch tops, although I do not wish to beunderstood as restricting the invention to the particular usesmentioned.

The invention embodies a loop or engaging member for the strap, a hookto form the detachable connection, link and lever members intermediatethe loop and hook and a housing for the link and lever members, saidparts being so assembled and connected that the loop and hook may bedrawn toward each other in turning the parts into locked position andwhen in locked position the parts will be held by the tension of thestrap, the hook being closed by one of the members and held I againstaccidental opening by the cooperation of the other members.

In the accompanying drawingsFigure 1 is a perspective view showing inoutline the front portion of an automobile with its top and straps forholding the top under tension, with the present invention appliedthereto; Fig. 2 is a sectional view through the detachable holding andtightening device; Fig. 3 is a bottom plan; Fig. 4c is a side elevationwith the parts shown in full lines in normal or closed position and indotted lines in positions they assume when being opened for relievingthe tension and detaching the connector; and Fig. 5 is a side elevationshowing the parts open and ready to be swung into closed position to putthe strap and cover under tension.

Similar letters of reference in the several figures denote the sameparts.

The conventional illustration of the automobile in Fig. 1 shows thefolding top A held taut by the usual straps B which extend diagonallydown and forwardly to fastenings on some part of the framing, such, forinstance, as the eyes or rings C.

In accordance with the present invention provision is made fordetachably connecting the straps with the eyes or rings, the attachingdevice embodying means for drawing the straps and top taut and lockingthe device against accidental release when subjected to shock or roughusage.

The connecting device embodies a top frame or housing D having at oneend a hook E preferably curved toward the open side of the housing tocooperate with a hook closing member adapted to lie within the housingand be substantially concealed from view by the side walls (Z. The strapB is passed through or connected with an eye or loop f or its equivalenton the upper end of a link member F while the lower end of said linkmember is pivotally connected with an intermediate part of a levermember G. The lever member is pivotally connected with the housing atthe upper end and is adapted to cooperate at its free end with the endof the hook to close the same as shown in Figs. 2 and 4. As a convenientand preferable construction, although variations will at once suggestthemselves, the upper end of the lever member G is bifurcated, as shownin Fig. 3, and the two arms 9 are pivotally connected at g with the sidewalls of the housing. The link member is pivoted between the arms 9 andis of such dimensions that shoulders f thereon will pass in over theupper ends of the side walls when the lever member is in closedposition, as shown in Fig. 2. In the position shown in said Fig. 2 thelink has crossed the axis of the lever and lies in a plane on the innerside of the pivots 9 whereby any strain or tension tends to hold themembers in their closed or locking position. Should pressure he broughton the hook closing end of the lever member tending to open the same theshoulders f on the loop by engaging the shoulders formed by the endwalls of the housing effectually hold the parts closed and, hence inorder to open the device the housing should be grasped and lifted to thepositions shown in dotted lines, Fig. 4,

thereby first withdrawing the side walls of the housing from beneath theshoulders on the loop and moving the link member across the pivotalcenter of the lever after which the parts will at once open to theposition 2: BEST AVAILABLE COPY 97s fi shown in Fig. 5 and the hooFfiayoe de tached.

With the parts shown in Fig. 5 and the hook in engagement with its eyethe lever may be grasped and the parts brought to the positions shown inFig. 4:. The leverage is suflicient to'enable the top of the vehicle tobe drawn forward, even against considerable resistance and the take-upis sufficient, 6., approximately the length of the link member and innerend of the lever) to draw the top and strap taut even though they arevery loose when the hook is first engaged with its eye.

The housing for the working parts forms a complete cover which is easilykept pol ished and clean and when in use presents the appearance of asimple hook to which the strap is connected. The weight of the housingbeing mainly supported by the link member and strap, assists in keepingthe parts in closed or locked position and, in addition, the shouldersof the link members will bind against the end of the housing should thelower-end of the lever tend to drop, thus holding the parts in lockingposition, even though the strap is slack.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. A detachable take-up connector of the character set forth embodying ahousing having a hook at one end and longitudinal side walls, extendingto the opposite end, a lever member pivotally mounted in the housingbetween the sidewalls on an axis fixed with relation to the housing andlever and at its free end cooperating with the hook to close the same,and a link member t-he-axis ofwth6. i Said link member having shouldersin pi'oxi'iiiity'to its free end for cooperation with the hous;

ber to hold the lever member closed.

2. A detachable take-up connector of the character set forth, embodyinga housing having a hook at oneend and side walls atthe opposite end, alever member pivotally mounted at one end between the side walls andcooperating at the opposite end with the hook to close the same, a linkmember having a loop at one end forming shoulders adapted to cooperatewith the side walls of the housing and at the opposite end pivotallyconnected with an intermediate part of the lever to move between theside walls and across the axis of the lever in closing, said linkresting against and serving to support the housing when in closedposition.

3. A detachable take-up connector of the character set forth, embodyinga housing having a hook at one end, a lever pivotally mounted at one endin the housing and at its free end cooperating with the hook to closethe same, a link member pivotally connected with the lever to moveacross the axis of the latter in closing, means on the link for theconnection of a cooperating strap and shoulders on the end of thehousing and shoulders on the free end of the link, cooperating with theshoulders on the housing when the link is moved beyond the axis of thelever to hold the lever in closed position.

PHILIP n. CHRISTMAN.

Witnesses AUDREY WRIGHT,

pivotally connected with an intermediate part of the lever member tomove across JOHN B. WHITE.

ing in the closed position of the link mem-

